CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: DR. KHALID MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

Qatar

Glimpses of Qatar’s founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani

Published: 18 Dec 2017 - 02:05 pm | Last Updated: 01 Nov 2021 - 05:48 am
A file photo of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani addressing the nation.

A file photo of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani addressing the nation.

QNA

The State of Qatar celebrates today December 18 the National Day under the slogan of ‘Promise of Prosperity and Glory’, which is a quote from the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s speech to the nation on July 21 during the current GCC crisis.

As Qatar celebrates such a glorious day, it remembers the achievements of its first Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, who dedicated his thoughts, efforts, time and wisdom to lay the foundation of establishing a modern state. This comes at a time when the region was facing conflicts, tensions and instabilities due to the competition and the search for power and influence among colonial powers at the time.

The Founder, may Allah have mercy on him, is Jassim Bin Mohammed bin Thani, a descendant of Midad, Bin Rayese, Bin Zakhir, Bin Mohammad Bin Alawi, Bin Waheeb who descended from Al Wahebba, from sons of Hanzellah, who descended from Tamim tribe of Mdharia and Adnaniyah roots. Al Wahebba tribe gave birth to a large number of celebrities in knowledge and courage.

The Founder, may Allah have mercy on him, was born in 1242 H, corresponding to 1826. He grew up in Fuwairat, north-east of Qatar, raised by his father, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Thani, the most prominent leader at the time. He received his education at the hands of religion scholars who taught him Quran and its sciences, Fiqh and Shariah law. Besides, he learned horsemanship, hunting and literature. He also helped his father in running the entire country’s affairs.

In 1264 H, corresponding to 1847, at the age of around twenty one, he moved with his father to live in El-Bidda. There, he emerged amongst his peers as a young leader looking forward to leadership. Such qualities were proved true afterward when Qatar encountered invasion, where Jassim emerged at the head of the Qatari troops defending the country and where he had a man-to-man fight against the most courageous Knight of the Arabian Peninsula by then, whom Jassim was able to kill after such a battle that kept everyone out of breath. After this incident, Jassim emerged as Qatar first Knight who attracted the admiration of all other Knights and won love of all the people of Qatar. 

This was later noted by an eyewitness who met him in 1279 H corresponding to 1862, a British traveler named William Belgrave who visited Qatar in that year. Mr. Belgrave observed the strong ties that connected companions to Jassim Bin Muhammad though such men would belong to the different unique tribes of Qatar. This doesn’t only indicate the powerful personality of Sheikh Jassim, but also indicates the idea of unity being developed in his thinking and attitude. Thanks to his wisdom, cleverness, generosity and sound policy, his prominence and popularity increased, as he succeeded in uniting the Qatari tribes under his leadership by unifying and winning the hearts and minds of people, at the age of 35 years. 

By virtue of such qualities of knowledge, wisdom, generosity and exercise of sound policy bestowed upon him by Almighty Allah, his prominence and popularity increased, where he was able to unite the Qatari tribes under his leadership by unifying hearts of people upon his love. This was explicitly evident in defiance of the various forces that sought to undermine Qatar or its people, where tribes united under his leadership. Taking advantage of this, he was able to outline their future and defend the borders, by virtue of which Qatar emerged as an independent entity in the region. He spent nearly fifty years of his life leading his people where he succeeded at unifying with wise policies, in the midst of critical events, changes and regional and international pressures that wanted to control the country. This will be continue to be remembered by the people of Qatar as glorious days in the country’s history. When we recall the Founder, we remember his bravery in facing the invaders and fighting them with pride, armed with strong belief in God. We also remember his rush to defend the oppressed ones with his people supporting him in facing injustice. When Sheikh Jassim was taken away from his country, his people fought for him and sacrificed their lives for him, and shed their blood to release him, and we still remember their sufferings for his revenge.

When we recall the Founder, we remember his keenness in preserving the sanctity and dignity of homeland, and his solid stand against anyone who would endeavor to attack or dominate that homeland. Through all these events, the Founder remained a leading Knight and a wise negotiator, and what took place with the Ottomans, best proof of his political and military wisdom. In March 1893, whilst in his 70’s, the Founder persistently rejected all attempts by the Ottomans to increase their influence in Qatar and despite the pressures, difference in power and size between both parties, he held on to what is right and prepared himself with faith and his people’s loyalty, to fight the Al Wajba battle, which he was forced into. He fought until victory and defeated the Ottomans in a battle that resulted as a turning point in Qatar’s modern history showing the steadfastness, perseverance, unity of the Qatari people and proved his sense of leadership and the power of the country’s decision independence.

When affairs stabilised, he began his mission to develop the country, where he built mosques and schools, hosted scholars, and published books of Fiqh “jurisprudence” at his expense and ordered to be distributed to his people and other countries, which proves his love for knowledge and his belief in his role in the rise of nations and peoples.

His time was synonymous with justice and prosperity. Diving for pearls and trading it became prominent, with Qatar turning to one of the biggest exporters of pearls. The number of vessels operating in the fields of trade, diving and transport doubled and the business diversified, markets boomed and population grew hence, urbanisation expanded.  

Sheikh Jassim was the helper of the oppressed, releaser of the prisoners, and set the enslaved free. In all these, Sheikh Jassim only sought to please God, as he didn’t obey anyone but God in defending his religion and homeland. The historian, Mahmud Shukri Al Alusi must have stated the truth when said: “He was one of the most distinguished noble Arabs. For, he was strictly adhered to religious beliefs, a persistent worshiper who would always say his prayers, a person of virtue and knowledge of religion and who did so many good deeds to the Muslim community”. Whereas Soliman El Dakhel said: “He was a man of widely acceptable opinion amongst the Arabs. A man whom presidents and princes would fear. A man who would do what he would say. He was entirely devoted to seeking reform, and whatever he sought to accomplish, Allah would help it to be so accomplished. For, his all deeds were solely done for the sake of God”.

Sheikh Jassim was a pure religious man of great piety and fear of God. He was a devout worshipper, an imam leading people in their daily or Friday prayers. He delivered the Friday sermons and he was a good orator. He was one of Arabic language pillars and supporters and he taught people in person. He passed away while repeating the monotheism phrase (I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).

As far as his attributes were concerned, he was, my God’s mercy be upon him, a tall man that was said to be seen from last rows in the mosque when he would lead people in group prayers including Fridays noon-prayers. He was of light shoulders and solid bones. He was elegant but with simplicity, dignified and of prestige. He was a decisive man of solid determination who would stand as one of those men that history may rarely offer
He was characterised by generosity, kindness and charity. He was a generous philanthropist who would love his family and good deeds. He was such a generous man that people would attract to him with love and would always be remembered by good deeds.

The Founder passed away on the afternoon of Thursday, the 13th day of the month of Shaban, 1331 H, corresponding to July 17, 1913 and was buried in the village of Lusail, a village located 24 kilometers north of Doha. By his death, Qatar lost one of its most outstanding leaders and a symbol of its unique history, a litterateur, a man of knowledge, virtue and generosity.